Bjorn’s command crashes over Freya so forcefully that it drowns out everything else. Even though Freya does not want to harm her own people or use her power, the oath-bound command leaves Freya no choice. At Saga’s urging to destroy the Skalander fleet, Freya calls on Hel and curses every Skalander warrior before her to Hel’s realm.

Freya’s magic erupts across the sea. The ships are hurled violently by the waves, warriors are knocked overboard, and black roots burst from the water to seize Skalander fighters and drag them beneath the surface. The destruction is vast and precise, targeting those who threaten Nordeland.

As the sea churns around their drakkar, Bjorn forces Freya down against the hull while Tora braces herself beside them. In the chaos, Snorri jumps into their vessel, grabs Freya’s wrist, and demands to know what Freya has done and what Freya has become. Although Freya is horrified by the carnage, Freya instinctively shields Snorri, and every root reaching for him is repelled.

Just as suddenly as it began, the roots vanish and the sea goes still. Freya and Bjorn recover enough to realize their drakkar has run aground on a small island. Around them, the surrounding ships drift empty on the water, and Freya understands that every visible Skalander has been sent to Helheim except Snorri.

Freya stumbles onto the beach and vomits while soldiers come ashore behind her. Bjorn pins Snorri to the sand with his boot as Tora, wounded, stands nearby and the Nameless remain in the boat. Looking out at the sea, Freya sees bodies rising to the surface and realizes the scale of the slaughter. Overcome with grief, Freya understands that Saga’s prophecy was not avoided after all, and Freya breaks down weeping.